The Broket DNA Project — North American participants

The ancestry of William Hume Brockett 1914-88

William Hume Brockett in the 1960s

In the wider Broket DNA project William Hume is in Genetic Group 3. His was the eldest line of a branch of the New Haven Connecticut clan that removed to the Carolinas in the early 18th C and then during the 19th C migrated up through Tennessee to Illinois and on to Washington DC and Delaware.

The purpose of section 1 is simply to document evidence of linkage between generations. Sometimes a single item of evidence is sufficient, like a birth certificate. The purpose here isn’t to supply exhaustive details about the families and lives of each individual, although sometimes details are useful to provide more context, or are interesting for another reason. As you go further back and official records become more scarce, you sometimes need more tangential evidence and this can involve a wider presentation and discussion of information.

Census entries, and other source documents, are quoted here in their original spelling and as close a format to the original as a webpage allows, but some re-ordering and/or abbreviation is usually necessary for clarity or convenience. Any additional or explanatory comments either follow the quotation as a “Comment:” or—if in-text—are put in square brackets, to enable you to distinguish comment from quote.

1. The evidence

There has never been a better time to discover our ancestors. Original documents from their lives are becoming ever more readily available through the internet. But at the same time—and probably in even greater quantity—the internet has enabled unevidenced data to proliferate and it can be difficult to separate fact from factoid. It was Norman Mailer who coined the term ‘factoid’ in 1973, and the dictionary definition is now “an assumption or speculation that is reported and repeated so often that it becomes accepted as fact”.1 Absolute proof in genealogy is arguably unattainable—except perhaps by means of DNA—but factoids are common and the internet helps them to spread.

This isn’t to say that with this Brockett branch—the ancestors of William Hume Brockett—there is a particularly acute problem with ‘factoids’. They only begin to become an issue here in the 4th generation, but are more so thereafter in the 5th, 6th and beyond. It’s just that in order to make the foundations for these more distant generations as secure as possible, every effort is made on this page and TBA as a whole to focus on evidence from start to finish. This may seem tedious to some who want quick answers or family charts without question marks. Also, instead of fact and factoid, we use the distinction between primary and secondary evidence. These are actually different sets of categories—by no means are all secondary sources factoids or pure assumption, and in rarer cases primary ones can be disinformation—so nothing should be taken for granted, each item has to be evaluated individually, and in doing so it’s useful to bear all 4 categories in mind.

For the main life events of the three most recent generations of this William Hume Brockett line there is ample reliable primary evidence to prove they were who they were, and their relationship to each other—birth, marriage and death records, censuses, and more. But primary evidence for the 4th generation—Milton Ives Brockett—is currently limited to 3 items: his marriage in 1834, a land purchase in 1838, and a probate record from 1840. As good, solid evidence as these provide for his adult life, none of them mention his birth date or parents. The land purchase, however, points to a probable father and the probate record mentions a probable brother—so although we don’t actually have a record saying that Milton Ives’ father was Benjamin Brockett, we can infer it with reasonable certainty. But for his birth date we currently only have secondary sources—the family genealogies of EJ Brockett 1905 and Vi Poland 1996, who both provided a precise birth and death date for him. As nearly always, EJB cited no sources, so his data should be treated with caution, but Poland did provide evidence here and it is evaluated below.

We are actually in the fortunate position of being able to contemplate any uncertainties in this lineage from a wider perspective of certainty. There is indisputable primary evidence—Y-DNA—that William Hume Brockett ultimately descended from the 17th C immigrant John Brockett of New Haven, as discussed in the final section below. The challenge for the less certain earlier 7th, 8th and 9th generations of this line is to piece together other evidence to fill the gaps, relying on secondary evidence as little as possible, and factoids not at all. This will be done on other pages.

1st generation: William Hume Brockett 1914-88

William had a lifetime career as a Chemical Engineer with the Dupont company in Wilmington, Delaware.2 Prior to that he was a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1920 3-4 Jan: The census recorded William Hume in his parents’ home in Washington DC, aged 5.

1930 30 Apr: The census recorded William H in his parents’ home at 8 Highland Place, 34th St NW, Washington DC, aged 15.

1934: The whole family—parents Paul and Helen, sister Marjorie and William were recorded at 3303 Highland Pl NW in the Washington DC City Directory. Burnetta Brockett in Woodbridge was from an unrelated clan.4

1936: This was William—called Hume Brockett—in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology yearbook:5

1940 3 Apr: The census recorded William Brockett aged 24, born DC, unmarried, Chemical Engineer (working in textile manufacture) having completed 4 years of College (Residence in 1935 Cambridge MA), with a salary of $2200, as lodger with 3 other unmarried 24-5 year old male chemical engineers or chemists in the home of Charles E Ryan, West 113th Street, New York City.6

1947 19 Apr: William H married Eunice A THAWLEY in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, both residing Wilmington, both single and their first marriage, his occupation Sales Correspondent for DuPont Co, hers Secretary at DuPont Co.7 Eunice was born 21 May 1920; died 30 Aug 1995.8

2nd generation: Paul Brockett 1872-1946

Paul worked for various agencies in Washington, DC, including the National Mint, The Academy of Sciences, the Library of Congress and as Assistant Librarian at The Smithsonian, where between 1910-32 he compiled and authored the volumes of the Bibliography of Aeronautics.10

Paul Brockett in the 1920s

1872: Born 11 Apr in Shawneetown, Gallatin, IL.11 The ‘1874’ of the 1900 census must be an error, as with his siblings’ birth years. Poland gave no source for Paul’s birthplace being in Shawneetown, the small settlement in Gallatin Co about 26 miles south of Carmi, rather than the very large administrative district found in all the land patents. She cited Shawneetown on its own for the place of marriage of Paul’s parents in 1868. But that Paul must have given it as his place of birth in his own marriage record in 1902 suggests it was the small settlement. The same applies to his parents’ marriage in 1868.

1880 9 Jun: In his parents’ home in Washington DC, aged 8. The census wrongly recorded Paul as Hall. “The error has continued to be promulgated by adding it as a middle name. Daddy and I talked about the family genealogy once upon a time, and he was adamant that Paul had NO middle name.”12 Poland mistakenly recorded him as ‘Paul Hall’.13

1895: Paul’s signature on his application to become a member of the Sons of the American Revolution as descendant of Capt James HUNTER, approved 22 Apr:14

His residence was Washington City; Occupation Confidential Clerk, US National Museum. One wonders why he didn’t claim membership through his paternal line to Capt William Brockett. Perhaps it was difficult proving the birth of his grandfather?

1900 9 Jun: The census recorded Paul in his parents’ home in Washington DC, aged 26 [actually 28].

1902 12 Jun: Paul and Helen Paine HUME were married by Clergyman T E St John in Eastport, Maine, both for the first time.15 The Record says Paul resided Washington DC, aged 30, occupation Librarian Sm. Int, W DC, born Shawneetown, IL; and that Helen resided Eastport, aged 23 [i.e. b c 1879], occupation “at home”, born Eastport, ME. The second page shows that Paul’s’ parents resided in Washington DC and were Benjamin F Brockett, born in C Illinois, and Caroline HUNTER, born in Reading, Pennsylvania, and that Helen’s father was William S HUME.

1910 3-4 Jan: The census for Enumeration District 213, Washington DC, recorded “Paul Brockett, aged 38, Librarian, Smithsonian, self and father born IL, mother born KY; with wife of 7 years Helen P, 30, born Maine, Boarders at the home of J Irving Gayetty at ?Faumount St; 2 children born, one living: Marjorie, aged 5 months, born DC.”16 Poland’s published genealogy only knew of “1 child: William H Brockett, who died 1 Dec 1903”,17 Another source recorded William Hume Brockett, born and died 1903, buried in his grandparents’ grave.18 He, like his namesake brother William Hume Brockett, 1914-88, was named for his mother’s father. The online extracts of Poland’s volumes also mentioned their other two children Marjorie 1909-86 and our William Hume 1914-88.19

1920 3-4 Jan: The census for Enumeration District 167, Tract 3, Washington DC, recorded “Paul Brockett, aged 47, homeowner by mortgage at Highland Place, Librarian, Smithsonian Institute, self and father born IL, mother born KY; with wife Helen Paine, 40, born Maine; and 2 children both born DC: Marjorie, 10; William Hume, 5.”20

1930 30 Apr: The census for Precinct 14, Tract 3, Washington DC, recorded “Paul Brockett, aged 57, householder at 8 Highland Place, 34th St NW, Owner of home, valued at $14,500, with a Radio Set, aged 30 at first marriage, Secretary Scientific Research, self, father and mother all born IL; with wife Helen P, 50, born Maine; and 2 unmarried children both born DC: Marjorie, 20; William H, 15.”21

3rd generation: Benjamin Franklin Brockett 1835-1924

According to the family genealogies, Benjamin Franklin Brockett was the eldest son of the eldest son of the eldest son of Capt William and Martha Brockett of SC, NC and TN. Censuses record Benjamin born in Illinois, and removing to Washington DC by 1880, where during his working life his occupation was given as Clerk in the Treasury Department. By 1910 he and wife Carrie had retired to Maryland, and in the census of that year gave his occupation as “Govt Lawyer“. The secondary source EJ Brockett said, “He practiced law until they removed to Washington, DC, in 1876; is now in Treasury Department.”24 This statement, and the detailed dates of the couple’s 6 children that EJB provided, suggest he was in touch with someone from the family. Poland said he “was also a lawyer.”25

For the Marriages, Births and Death pages from Benjamin Franklin’s family Bible record 26+Read More

Unlike some Bible records, the entries tally well with other records and were clearly written at different times. The birth entries for Benjamin and Carrie were probably written by Benjamin.

1850: The census recorded Benj F Brocket in his mother Violet’s household in White Co IL, aged 14, born IL.

1860: A census record for Benjamin F who would have been aged c 25 has not yet been found.

1861-5: Civil War.

By this time there were only two contemporary Benjamin Franklin Brocketts in Illinois, ours born 1835 and his uncle born 1818. The third had died in 1851. The pension record of our Benjamin F born 1835 referred to him as “Jr”, “2nd Lieut I 87 Ills. Inf” and “Army invalid”.28 The Civil War record of “Benjamin F Brockett Senior” apparently gave an enlistment date of 15 Aug 1862 as 1st Lieutenant, and his Service Record as “Commissioned an officer in Company I, Illinois 87th Infantry Regiment on 22 Sep 1862. Promoted to Full Captain on 6 Mar 1863. Mustered out on 10 Dec 1863.”29 This must have been the Benjamin F b 1818.

The History of White County, Illinois, 1883 (see below) mentioned Benjamin’s Civil War service on the Union side in a number of battles and engagements. It’s mostly clear which Benjamin was being referred to. For instance, “Benjamin Brockett” was mustered as a Private by Captain U S Grant (later President of the United States),30 and “Benjamin F Brockett Sr” was mentioned as Captain and First Lieutenant; “Benjamin F Brockett Jr” was mentioned as Second Lieutenant and Sergeant; and “Benjamin F Brockett” as Private,31 presumably all at different stages of the War. Benjamin F Brockett Jr and the Private would have been our Benjamin F, born 1835, and Benjamin F Brockett Sr, Captain and First Lieutenant, would have been his uncle born 1818.

The History also mentioned “Milton J Brockett” as a Corporal,32 and “George F Brockett” as a Private under “Captain Benj. F. Brockett“.33 Milton J was probably Milton Ives (1840-1919), the younger brother of our Benjamin F (1835-1924), ‘J’ and ‘I’ were often indistinguishable in contemporary records. It wouldn’t have been a ‘T’ in the source meaning Milton Terry who was only born 1848 (see below), but George F was probably his eldest brother George Franklin.34

The History also mentioned that it was during the Civil War that “the town [of West Union] was laid out in 1863 by John Parkhurst and Benjamin F. Brockett, who built a saw-mill and corn-cracker, and, in 1865, added a grist-mill. … Mr. Brockett is in Kansas [1883] … Six families now reside at West Union. There is one saw and flour mill, one store and a blacksmith shop. The town is frequently called Parkhurstville.”35 It’s easy to forget how small some of these rural settlements were. This Benjamin F Brockett, however, must have been the one born 1818, recorded in Kansas 1870, and uncle of our Benjamin Franklin born 1835.

1868 21 Apr: Benjamin married Caroline ‘Carrie’ H HUNTER in Shawneetown, IL.36 Without a source for the record it isn’t clear if this Shawneetown was the small settlement, about 26 miles south of Carmi, or the very large administrative district found in all the land patents. But that son Paul’s birthplace was given as Shawneetown in his marriage record suggests that it was the small settlement. Carrie was born 30 Apr 1842,37

1870: Returns for this census have been found for his 2 living contemporary namesakes, but not yet for this Benjamin F who would have been aged c 35. Since son Paul appears to have been born in Shawneetown Township rather than District, the family were probably living in Shawneetown Township in 1870.

1880 17 Jun: The census for the 3rd Enumeration District, Washington DC, recorded “Benjamin F Brockett aged 45, householder at 457 Chapin Street, Clerk Treas Dept, born IL, father born IL, mother TN; with wife Carrie H, 38, Keeping house, born PA; and 5 children, all born IL, except the last in MA: Sue Hunter, 11; Viola,10; Hall, 8, at school; Carlotta, 5; Bluford W, 2.”38 There were two errors in this census return. One was that “Paul’s sister’s name was not Sue, but Zue, short for Missouri. Her aunt Zue Hunter (Carrie’s sister) had shortened her name from Missouri to Zue many years before.”39 ‘Zue’ can be seen in the Family Bible record. The other error, mentioned above, was ‘Hall’ for ‘Paul’.

1890: The census records were mostly destroyed by fire and no records of Brocketts survived.

1900 9 Jun: The census for the 13th Enumeration District, Washington DC, recorded “Benjamin F Brockett aged 60, born Oct 1839 IL, Head of a mortgaged House at 3425 Holmead Avenue, Govt Clerk, father born IL, mother TN; with wife Carrie H, 58, born Apr 1842 PA, married 31 years (Marriage Year 1869), 5 children born, all living; with daughters Hunter, 30, born Feb 1870, and Viola, 28, born Apr 1872; and sons Paul, 26, born Apr 1874; and Bluford W, 21, born Jul 1878, all unmarried and born IL, except Bluford in MA.”40 The children’s birth years were all recorded slightly differently in this census return from the family Bible record above, and will have been mistranscribed, probably from field notes. As shown by other records of Paul’s birth, the family Bible record is to be trusted.

1910 2 May: The census for Bethesda, Montgomery, Maryland, recorded “Benjamine F Brockett aged 74, born IL, Head of a rented House, Govt Lawyer, Auditor ?Office of War, father born IL, mother TN; with wife Caroline H, 68, born PA, married 42 years, 6 children born, 5 living.”41

1920 14 Apr: The census for Bethesda, Montgomery, MA, recorded “Benjamin Brockett aged 84, born IL, Head of a mortgaged House on Woodard St, ?Clerk, Treasury, father born IL, mother TN; with wife Caroline H, 78, born PA.”42 Next door lived Charles S and Carlotta MUIR and their 4 sons, the second of whom was called Brockett, aged 14, and the youngest Bluford, 7. Comment: Carlotta will have been Benjamin and Carrie’s daughter, aged 5 in the 1880 census. She will have named her son Bluford for her younger brother.

Son of Elisha, and 1st cousin once removed of our Benjamin Franklin (1835-1924). Married M Louise/Luisa GOOD 1847.50 The 1850 census (22 Sep) for District 7, Macon Co, TN, recorded “Benjn F Brockett, aged 29, Farmer, with Louisa I, aged 17, in the household of his younger brother Berlin B Brockett, aged 26, Farmer of an estate worth $150, with [wife] Sally, 21; and [sons] Elisha H, 2; and Cyrus Z; 1″.51 See a picture of Cyrus in 1914 with his large family.

It isn’t yet known if the ‘F’ stood for Franklin. Records so far found for him before 1870 only call him Benjamin. The 1850 census (3 Oct) recorded him in New Haven City “aged 15, born CT; with Mr Brocket, aged 42, Laborer; Mrs Brocket, 42; Alonzo, 19, Laborer; and Mary, 12; all born CT”.52 A suggested name of Benjamin for ‘Mr Brocket’ was added to the transcription in 2011 on the basis of the 1850 directory for 14 Elm St, where Benjamin Brockett was living. Someone also suggested the name Rebecca for ‘Mrs Brocket’. However, it isn’t yet known how this family links in with the New Haven clan. They are not recorded in the New Haven Vital Records 1649-1850,53 nor in Jacobus or EJ Brockett’s 1905 genealogy. There is a gravestone in Evergreen Cemetery. New Haven, for Alonzo L Brockett, died 29 Jun 1907 aged 76 [i.e. b c 1831].54 The 1860 census (10 Sep) recorded the family in New Haven City Ward 1, New Haven, CT, as Benjamin Brocket, aged 26, Painter, householder, personal estate valued at $100, with Ellen, aged 26; and Benjamin L,1; all born CT.55 He served in Company I, 12th Connecticut Volunteers in the Civil War.56 Benham’s New Haven Directory of 1870 recorded Benjamin F Brockett, painter, at home address: 223 York, and Alonzo L Brockett, gilder, at home address: 211 York.57 The 1870 census (4 Jun) recorded him likewise in New Haven City Ward 1, New Haven, CT, as Benjamin F Brocket, aged 36, House Painter, householder, real estate valued at $1000 and personal estate at $200, with Ellen A, aged 38, Keeping House; and 2 boys at home: Daniel ?L,10 and Charles H, 8; all born CT, except Ellen NY.58Benjamin F died 26 Sep 1896 aged 63, according to his gravestone in Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, New Haven Co, CT, 5 months after his wife Ellen M.59 E J Brockett, under ‘Unlocated names’ listed his Will of 2 Oct 1896, “Property went to his widow, Ellen M Brockett; amount $5,973.15. Administrators C H Brockett and B T Brockett.—-New Haven Wills.60 The Will hasn’t been located online. According to the gravestone Ellen had already died, so perhaps he didn’t update his Will. The 1901New Haven City Directory recorded Benjamin T Brockett and Charles H Brockett as partners in B F Brockett Sons, painters and decorators, at street address: 351 York, with Benjamin T’s home address 178 Hazel and Charles’, who was also a physician, 351 York.61

Here is a suggested reconstruction of part of the clan highlighting 3 Benjamin Franklins and 6 Miltons, as far as possible based on verifiable evidence:

Secondary sources said that Benjamin Franklin Brockett 1835-1924 was the eldest son of:62

4th generation: Milton Ives Brockett born 1811? died by 1840

Fully reliable primary evidence for Milton Ives Brockett currently consists of three records: of his marriage in 1834, a land purchase in 1838, and the administration of his estate in 1840. None of the three records mentioned his birth, parentage or any other dates, and he hasn’t been found recorded in a census return. Secondary sources seen so far said he was born in Tennessee, the eldest son of Benjamin, son of Capt William and Patsey Brockett, and gave his dates as 1811-39, for which they provided no verifiable evidence. According to FamilySearch “Statewide registration of births began in 1914 in Tennessee with general compliance by 1927″ and—with respect to Tennessee—“Before 1874, no births were recorded by the county or state. You must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s birth date and place.”63To find substitute records for Milton Ives’ birth, death and parentage the net has to be cast wide and this section therefore has several subsections:

1. Primary evidence

Item 1

The earliest primary evidence we have of Milton I Brocket is of his marriage to Violet I BALDRIDGE in 1834 in a record from Perry Co, IL. “This is to certify that I Joined in the bands of matrimony on the 11th Inst Milton I Brocket & wife Violet J Baldridge Decr 12 1834 Samuel C Baldridge”:64

Many clerks of the time didn’t distinguish clearly, if at all, between capital ‘I’ and ‘J’. If the 1838 land record below hadn’t spelt out Milton’s second forename Ives we couldn’t have been sure if the initial was ‘I’ or ‘J’. Similarly, we haven’t yet found a primary document spelling out Violet’s second forename, which as can be seen here was also either ‘I’ or ‘J’. Secondary sources filled it out as Isabel or Isabella, and that the marriage was at Pinckneyville as opposed to just Perry Co.65 Pinckneyville is and was the county seat, so they may well have married there, but equally perhaps not.

Censuses

The marriage is the only vital event so far found in a primary record for Milton. What did census returns record?

1800: Milton’s presumed father Benjamin was still most likely one of the sons aged 16-26 in his father William’s household in York Co, SC, and unmarried.

1810-20: No record of Benjamin has so far been found in the 1810 census, but the 1820 census for his household in White Co IL contained 4 sons under 10 as well as 3 daughters under 10 and one 10-16. Milton may well have been one of the 4 sons under 10 in 1820.

1830: Benjamin and his wife (still in White Co IL) again had a large household of 10 probable children, including a son b 1800-10 and 2 1810-1815, plus other younger children. So, assuming Milton to have been his son—and the 1838 land purchase (see below) plus the fact that his wife Violet and her children were living in Benjamin’s household in 1850 suggest that was the case—then he would probably still have been at home for this census of 1830.

1840 as of June 1: A census record for neither Milton nor Violet as a head of household has been found. In Benjamin’s household in Carmi this year he and his wife would have been the two 50-60 year olds, but in the light of the 1850 census below, the 3 under 5s and the male aged 5-10, may have been Violet’s children, and the 20-30 year-old female may have been Violet. If so, the 15-20 year-old female and two 20-30 year-old males may have been Benjamin’s youngest 3 children still at home.66 One of the two 20-30 year-old males may alternatively have been Milton. He and Violet may have lived as a second family in his parents’ household, Violet continuing to do so as a widow up to 1850 at least. Alternatively, Milton may have died before the 1840 census was carried out.

Thus the censuses record nothing explicit about Milton, and we can only suggest possible anonymous references, which may or may not be correct.

Item 2

On 28 Jul 1838 a land patent was recorded in favour of “Milton Ives Brockett of White County, Illinois” of 40 acres and 93/100s of an acre in “the North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section thirty one, in Township five South of Range nine East; Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 009E, Aliquot NE¼SW¼, Section 31, White County IL.”67 Section 31—within which Milton’s plot was situated—is the small dark orange square at the bottom left of the larger lighter orange square of 36 sections to the N, W and S of Carmi (Township five) in the image below:

+++Note: Not recorded on the official U.S. Department of the Interior General Land Office Records website is a transcribed record (without image) dated 21 Sep 1835 from the Illinois Public Domain Land Detail section of the online Office of the Illinois Secretary of State.68 Its Land Description is less precise than the 1838 General Land Office Records one above, but appears to concern the same plot of land: “21 Sep 1835 Sale to Milton Ives Brockett of 44.93 acres, price per acre 1.25, total price 56.16, Type of sale FD; Aliquot Parts or Lot: NESW, Section Number 31, Township 05S, Range 09E, Meridian 3, County White.” It was perhaps the initial stage of the patent, completed in 1838.

A rough idea of the areas involved can be gauged by the township of Enfield on the left of the image which is about 11 miles West of Carmi, making section 31 about 6 miles SW of Carmi. Each section was divided into 4 more or less equal (aliquot) quarters of about 160 acres—NW, NE, SW and SE—and each of those in turn was divided into 4 quarters of about 40 acres. Milton’s land was in the NE quarter of the SW quarter (NE¼SW¼) of section 31, comprising almost 41 acres. This section—#31—also contained land purchased previously in 1827 by Benjamin Brockett (the whole of the SE quarter: SE¼), shown in the slider below, thus Milton’s land in NE¼SW¼ abutted Benjamin’s in SE¼. The slider also shows land purchased by Benjamin Brockett in 1834, 38 and 40 in Sections 32, 33 in range 9 and 36 in range 8:

No record has been found of anyone purchasing Milton’s 41 acres at NE¼SW¼ in Section 31 after his death. The 1850 census recorded Violet owning real estate valued at 250, increasing to 1000 by the 1860 one.

1834 7 Aug: To Benjamin Brockett of White County, Illinois, of 40 acres in “the North West quarter of the South West quarter of Section thirty two, in Township Five South of range nine East; Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 009E, Aliquot NW¼SW¼, Section 32, White County IL.”70

1838 28 Jul: To Benjamin Brockett of White County, Illinois, of 80 acres in “the West half of the South West quarter of Section thirty three, in Township Five South of range nine East; Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 009E, Aliquot W½SW¼, Section 33, White County IL.”71

1840 10 Oct: To Benjamin Brockett of White County, Illinois, of 40 acres in “the North East quarter of the North East quarter of Section thirty six, in Township Five South, of range eight East; Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 008E, Aliquot NE½NE¼, Section 36, White County IL.”72

Recorded land patents for White Co date from 1814, and Benjamin’s 1827 one above was the first for a Brockett there. The 1820 Illinois census shows that Capt William Brockett and his wife and sons had moved from Tennessee to Illinois by then, when sons Benjamin, Elisha, Frederic, James and Thomas were all recorded as heads of household in White County. Benjamin, at least, was still a householder there in 1850, aged 75 (i.e. b c 1775), and indeed was still living there in 1870. The next White Co land patent to a Benjamin Brockett after 1850 was to Benjamin Franklin Brockett in 1852. Benjamin (b 1775) is nowhere recorded as Benjamin Franklin, so this 1852 patent would have been for his younger son born 1818, see the chart above. Our Benjamin Franklin (1835-1924), would only have been 17 in 1852. Similarly, it is unlikely that the 1840 patent to Benjamin would have been to son Benjamin Franklin, aged 22, the second forename would have presumably been needed as an identifier. The 4 patents above dating between 1827-40 were therefore no doubt for Benjamin (b 1775).

In total 19 patents were recorded in Carmi to Brocketts between 1827-55:+Read More

1838 28 Jul: To James Brockett of White County, Illinois” 40 acres. Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 008E, Aliquot SW¼SE¼, Section 25, White County IL.74 James would have been the younger brother of Benjamin (b 1775), and father of Alanson D below.

1840 10 Oct: To Benjamin Brockett, as above.

1843 3 Mar: To “Nathaniel D Brocket of White County, Illinois” 40 acres. Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 009E, Aliquot NE¼NE¼, Section 31, White County IL.75 According to the genealogies Nathaniel was the 2nd son of Benjamin (b 1775). This was in the same eastern half of section 31 as Benjamin’s 1827 and Milton’s 1838 patents but not actually abutting them.

1852 10 Jul: 40 acres of bounty land issued in favor of John W Ogden Lieutenant in the War of 1812, and assigned to “Benjamin F Brockett“. Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 006S – 008E, Aliquot NW¼SE¼, Section 2, White County IL.76 This was no doubt a son of Benjamin (b 1775) born 1818.

1854 1 Mar: 40 acres of bounty land issued in favor of James O North private in the Virginia militia, and assigned to “William Brockett“. Land description: Meridian 3rd PM, Twp – Rng 005S – 008E, Aliquot SE¼NW¼, Section 14, White County IL.82 This was either William W, son of Benjamin (b 1775) born 1817, as with the patent of 1852 above, or less likely William, younger brother of Benjamin (b 1775) born 1783.

Note: All of these patents were recorded “in the District of Lands Subject to Sale at Shawneetown Illinois“. Shawneetown itself was—and still is—a relatively small settlement in Gallatin County, Illinois, however as a land district after the American Revolution ‘Shawneetown’ was an important United States government administrative center for the territory northwest of the River Ohio, covering a large area containing “the present counties of Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Saline, White, Williamson, and parts of nearby counties.”87

There were also some patents granted to others from the wider family in Effingham Co, but otherwise the only other land patent recorded from 19th C Illinois was one in Stark Co in 1818 for 160 acres in favor of “Charles Brockett, brother; and the other heirs at Law of Benajah Brockett deceased, late a Corporal in Morgans Corps of 1st? Light Dragoons”. Although distantly related as members of the New Haven clan, Charles and Benajah were with little doubt in Illinois independently from this family of Capt William’s moving up from Tennessee.88

Conclusion: The proximity of these 19 patents to each other, along with the absence of any to other Brocketts in the county, proves that they were granted to members of the same wider family; shown by genealogies and other evidence to have been Benjamin (b 1775), his brothers, or his or their sons. Most relevant to our enquiry here is that the land of the 1838 patent of Milton Ives Brockett—the first to one of the younger generation—abutted on land owned by Benjamin (b 1775). This is good primary evidence of a father-son relationship.

Debts amounting to 473.10 were then listed, the final one to Benja. Brocket for 20.00. Probate of an estate can only occur after a person’s death, so this is firm evidence that Milton died before 12 Dec 1840. The clue to finding this record was Poland’s reference; it hadn’t been found—as of 17 Mar 2019—in other online Illinois Probate indexes.90

2. Secondary evidence

Where primary sources have gaps, it is tempting to fill them in—sometimes too readily—by secondary sources. Where and how secondary sources got their information from needs careful assessment. The secondary sources consulted here so far are of three types: a County history, transcribed later records, and family genealogies. They are all useful starting points for this research, but are open to error, so have to be evaluated carefully:

Type 1

The History of White County, Illinois. White County was where the family was first recorded purchasing land in 1827, and this History was published in 1883. So, the accounts of the earliest two generations of the clan in the county would have largely been compiled from memories of grandchildren collected by publishing agents half a century after the events. So, as genuine and reliable as they may seem, the History is nevertheless a secondary source. Having said that, most of the information we cite here from the History is military, and those details should be cross-checkable against official primary records.

Type 2

A transcribed later record of a death in 1919 of Milton Ives Brockett, born 1840, published online by Ancestry.com but without an image of the original record, recorded his father as “Milton Ives Brockett”.91 The source information said that index entries were derived from digital copies of original records, but without a corroborating image that his father was actually named in the record it must remain secondary information. When an image becomes available, and the father’s name is there, this will become another item of primary evidence.

Type 3

These are the family genealogies of EJ Brockett 1905 and Poland 1996. These two are the main secondary sources for Milton Ives and his family and are useful starting points for researching individuals in this huge clan; Poland’s genealogy is a definite improvement on EJB’s. Both gave precise dates for Milton Ives’ birth and death: 26 Jan 1811 and 4 or 5 Oct 1839.92EJB provided no evidence, but Poland cited the following under ‘Notes for Milton’:

“This data from Mabel Wallace of Provo, Utah. Birth: Family records give his birth date. He was probably born in Smith Co. Tennessee where his family was living before their move to Illinois. Death: No stone remains for him in West Union Cemetery, but Vaught’s book of Cemeteries of White Co., lists him so a stone must have existed at one time. No death date is given, but his estate was administered by his brother, Nathaniel D. Brockett. 10 Oct 1839 and other family records give the date of his death as 4 Oct 1839. (Probate Records of White Co., Illinois, Box 4 at the courthouse in Carmi, Illinois, examined by NHW Aug 1990).”

The final item in brackets (Probate Records of White Co…) is a reference to the 3rd primary source for Milton Ives cited above. It is slightly misplaced and should follow the item ending “his estate was administered by his brother, Nathaniel D. Brockett”, to which it refers. But it’s a good reference. What of the other ‘Notes’? They fall into 3 categories: first a general one—Mabel Wallace—then 2 points re Milton’s birth, and thirdly 4 points re his death.

This reference doesn’t attach to a specific item of information. It might refer to any or all of the data in the sketch about Milton above, or to what follows in the Notes. Either way, Mabel was a personal contact which as a source can’t be verified or evaluated. Poland thanked her in her Acknowledgements but gave no indication of her authority. She was possibly Mabel (Yates) Wallace (1909-94).93

A family record of Milton’s birth on 26 Jan 1811 may well have existed—perhaps it still does?—but unless it’s publicly available it can only be treated as hearsay. EJB and Poland recorded Milton Ives as Benjamin’s eldest son, born after Mariah in 1809 and before Nathaniel in 1813. If that is all correct, a birth date of 1811 or thereabouts is possible, but without further detail ‘Family records’ is an unverifiable source, and in the absence of better evidence 1811 can only be cited as a possible birth date for Milton.+++
However it’s possible that ‘Family records’ here—as with 3.3 below—may have meant EJ Brockett’s 1905 genealogy. In general it’s clear that EJB—although unnamed—was one of Poland’s main sources. Certainly EJB gave Milton the precise birth date of 26 Jan 1811.94 EJB’s genealogy was a secondary source itself, and as usual provided no evidence for the date, so if Poland was citing him as ‘Family records’, the reference has little value.+++
In her ‘Notes’ for our Benjamin Franklin Brockett (1835-1924), Poland said, “The birth information in this record is based on family Bible record of his father.”95The Marriages, Births and Deaths pages of Benjamin Franklin Brockett’s family Bible certainly still exist and are reproduced above. Understandably, they include data about Benjamin and Carrie and their children, and not about their parents. So, Poland’s “family Bible record of his father” must mean “the record in the family Bible of Benjamin’s father”—i.e. Milton’s family Bible—rather than “the record of his father in Benjamin’s family Bible”. So the same applies here as with ‘Family records’ mentioned here: unless Milton’s family Bible or actual genuine pages from it are made publicly available this reference can only be treated as hearsay.+++
Indeed, even when they are made become publicly available, like the records from Capt William’s Bible,96Family Bible information should still be critically assessed. The great genealogist Jacobus said they should take second place to independent records where they exist, like church or state baptismal, marriage and death records. The pages above from Benjamin Franklin’s Bible tally well with other records, and items were mostly written at different times. That Family Bible is a reliable primary source, but Milton’s is an unknown.

This is likely. The 1790 Tennessee and 1820 Illinois census records are good circumstantial evidence that could have been cited here or in Poland’s sketches of Milton, his parents or grandparents.97 Here in her ‘Notes’ she rightly said ‘probably’. In her preceding sketch, she simply said: “He was born in Smith County…” Like the ‘Note’ the sketch should have said ‘probably’.

3.1. “Death: No stone remains … but Vaught’s book … lists him so a stone must have existed at one time.”+Read More

This is the first of Poland’s 4 points evidencing Milton’s death, and refers to a typed book Cemeteries of White County, Illinois with 6 authors or contributors, the first being Harriet B Vaught. She was a transcriber of Illinois documents in the 1970s and 80s, with 17 works listed between 1970-84, this Cemeteries one tentatively dated 1970.98+++
These were the days before the internet, when public records were only available in archives and Vaught’s books would have been lodged in libraries around the country, providing a service to researchers unable to travel. Nowadays, not only are many Illinois State records available online—of deaths in this case for instance—but with respect to grave markers many original images, some grouped into cemeteries are now readily available from Findagrave sites, like the collection of 143 in White Co, IL.99 This includes West Union Cemetery, Brownsville, currently with 676 memorials, 77% of them photographed.100 You will find 78 memorials of Brocketts here, one for Corp Milton Ives Brockett 1843-1919, for example, but you won’t find one for our Milton Ives Brockett of the previous generation, nor for his wife Violet, as recorded by Vaught in 1970. There are in fact separate Findagrave sites for this couple,101 but they are both “BURIAL Unknown”, therefore without an image of a grave marker. They apparently cite information from Poland (although unreferenced) and are not in the Findagrave West Union Cemetery collection.+++
Vaught’s Cemeteries of White County, Illinois is therefore now redundant, which is as well because it becomes obvious quite quickly that it contains inaccuracies and errors. It’s not worth taking space and time here illustrating its unreliability, but since it is now available online and since Poland cited it, we will do so elsewhere. Suffice it to say here that Vaught’s entry for “Milton I Brockett” is too opaque to draw any reliable information from,102 for example that he died in White Co. It’s possible that Milton was buried in West Union Cemetery and the grave marker has been lost, Violet too, even though it was as recently as 1970 that Vaught listed them. But Vaught’s reference doesn’t provide reliable evidence for it.

3.2. “No death date is given, but his estate was administered by …”+Read More

“No death date is given” looks like a comment from NHW, Poland’s informant, and it is correct, but the probate date of 16 Dec 1840 was given and would have been a positive fact to cite. See 3.4 below which this point goes with.

3.3. “other family records give the date of his death as 4 Oct 1839.”+Read More

EJ Brockett’s genealogy gave this date,103 so perhaps that’s what Poland meant by ‘other family records’. See 2.1 above.

Poland’s point 3.2/4 above referred to a good primary source, but unfortunately the other points were all references to weak secondary sources, and provided no support for her birth and death dates for Milton Ives. You might say this is splitting hairs, what does it matter if Milton was born on 4th, 5th or 10th October? It doesn’t. But if you quote a date you have to cite your evidence. Jumping to small conclusions without evidence is no different from jumping to big ones. If a genealogy doesn’t justify its details, how can its conclusions be safe? That Milton Ives was a son of Benjamin Brockett (b 1775) is a far bigger claim than his birthdate in April, but Poland didn’t question the relationship, or give evidence for it, neither in the sketch for Milton nor for Benjamin, nor in the Notes for either.104 So further research is required; Poland’s Notes are only a starting point.

3. Violet Baldridge/Brockett

1834: Violet I/J BALDRIDGE married Milton I/J Brockett. Poland provided a verifiable reference for this under ‘Notes for Violet’.105

1840 as of 1 Jun: As noted above, a census record for neither Milton nor Violet as a head of household has been found. They, or just Violet, and children were probably in Benjamin’s household in Carmi.

1850 12 Oct: The census recorded Violet, aged 33, with 6 children, in Benjamin and Elizabeth’s household—doubtless her parents-in-law—in White Co IL.106 The household comprised: Benj Brocket, aged 75, Farmer born SC; Elizabeth, 67, born NC; Violet I/J Brocket, 33, born SC, real estate valued at 250; 6 children, all born IL: Benj F, 14; Chalmars B, 13; Isabelle I/J, 11; Milton I/J, 10; Holmes L, 5; Margt L, 2. Comment: The first 4 children were all born within a 4-5 year period, c 1836-40. About 5 years then elapsed before the 5th child was born c 1845, and a further 3 before the last c 1847. Violet’s husband Milton Ives had died by Dec 1840, so he clearly couldn’t have been the father of the last 2, and perhaps only posthumously of the 4th, his namesake Milton Ives. Despite giving Milton a death date in 1839, both family genealogies allocated all 6 children to the couple without comment. The two youngest children must either have been Violet’s by a different father or else adopted by her.

1860 16 Aug: The census recorded Violet I/J Brocket, head of household in White Co IL, Post Office Carmi, aged 44, born SC, real estate valued at 1000, personal estate at 150; 3 children, all born IL: Milton, 20, Farmer; Holmes, 15; Margaret, 12.107 Comment: A census record for son Benjamin F who would have been aged c 25 has not yet been found.

1870 30 Jun: The census recorded Violet Brockitt, head of household in Carmi, White Co IL, keeping house, aged 56, born SC, real estate valued at 700; with Holmes, 24, born IL.108 Comment: The next 3 households in the list were all Brockitt Farmers, born IL:

· Milton, aged 33, with real estate valued at 500 and personal at 310; with Virginia, aged 24, Keeping House, born IL; and 2 children, born IL: Alphonze, 4; Eva, 2.· James, aged 29, with personal estate valued at 180; with Margaret, aged 27, Keeping House, born NC; and 1 child, born IL: John, 1.· Benjamin, aged 27, with real estate valued at 1000 and personal at 280; with Virginia, aged 17, Keeping House, born PA; and 1 child, born IL: Laura, 9 months.+Comment: Earlier censuses show that Milton was her son, but who were James and Benjamin? The Benjamin that earlier censuses show as her son was aged 14 in 1850, but this one was only 27 20 years later in 1870. He owned more than the other two, as one might expect of an older son, but he was apparently married to Virginia. Violet’s son Benjamin had apparently married Carrie HUNTER in 1868.

1880 22 Jun: The census recorded Violet I/J Brockett in the household of son Milton I/J Brockett, Farmer in Enfield, White Co, IL. Violet was aged 65, Mother, Widowed, At home, Born SC, parents born S; Milton was aged 40, born IL, father born IL, mother SC. Also in the household were: Virginia, 37, wife, Keeping house, born IL; and 4 sons and 2 daughters, all born IL: Alfonzo E, 14, Works on farm; E Bell, 12, At home; Sylvester O, 10, Works on farm; Agnew, 6; Theopelus, 3; Martha E, 1.109

1890: The census records were mostly destroyed by fire and no records of Brocketts survived.

4. Other 19th C Milton Brocketts

Records of 5 other 19th C Milton Brocketts have been found, most easily identified by their wives’ names, see the chart above. Only the first was more or less contemporary with Milton Ives Brockett, husband of Violet, but to avoid confusion, some details of all 5 are useful:

Milton Young Brockett b 1818 d by 1900, married Martha J HOLFORD in 1843. He was son of Elisha and older brother of Benjamin Franklin 1820-51.111+Read More

He was the only early 19th C Milton Brockett found in censuses. The 1850 census (16 Sep) for District 7, Van Buren Co, Tennessee, recorded M Y Brockett as head of household, aged 37 [i.e. b c 1813], Doctor; with Martha J, 26; and [daughters] Eugenia Clay, 3, and Sarah Jane, 6; all born TN.112 Similarly, the 1860 census (5 Jun) for Sherman Post Office, Grayson Co, Texas, recorded M Y Brockett as head of household, aged 42 [i.e. b c 1818], M[edical] D[octor]; with Martha J, 34, Dom; and [daughters] S J, 15, and E C, 13; all born TN.113 For both the 1870 and 1880 censuses he and Martha were again recorded in Sherman, Grayson, Texas. A record of his death hasn’t yet been found. In 1900 Martha J Brockett was recorded as widowed, aged 75, having had 2 children, both still living, with daughter Sarah J TUTTLE, widowed, aged 55, in North Travis, Sherman, Grayson, Texas.114 In 1903 Martha was recorded at 25 W Pecan, Sherman, Denison, Texas, as widow of Milton Y Brockett.115

Milton Ives Brockett 1840-1919, married Virginia EVELETTE in Illinois 5 Sep 1864.116 He was son of Milton Ives and Violet I.117+Read More

The 1880 census (21-2 Jun) for Enfield, White Co, Illinois, recorded Milton I Brockett as head of household, aged 40, Farmer; with wife Virginia, 37; son Alfonzo E, 14; daughter E Bell, 12; son Sylvester O, 10; son Agnew, 6; son Theopelus, 3; daughter Martha E, 1; and mother Violet I, 65 (b SC and parents also).118 This Milton would be the Milton Brockett, third named teacher of the public school in Enfield after Rev J M Miller, who taught there 1837-61. The first frame school house built in the village was in 1860. It was a one-story building 22×36 feet.119 He died 18 Aug 1919, Widower, and was buried in West Union Cemetery, Brownsville, White County, Illinois.120

Milton B Brockett 1844-83, married Olive G BLACKER in White Co, Illinois 21 Feb 1865.121 He was son of William and Irena. +Read More

The 1850 census (13 Nov) for White Co, IL, recorded Milton, aged 6, in the household of William and Irena Brocket.122 The 1860 census recorded Milton aged 16 in the same household.123 In 1870 Milton Brockett, aged 24, Farm Laborer, [wife] Ollie, 19, Keeping house, and daughter Ella, 2, were living next door to William and Irene and family.124 in 1880 Milton B, aged 36, was recorded with Olive G, 32, in Clinton, Douglas, Missouri, with 3 children. Milton was bedridden with Consumption.125 Milton died 1883, his second forename given as Baldridge, and Olive apparently married again to Isaac W Ridenhour and died in 1901.126

Milton Terry Brockett 1849-1922, married Susan M HUNSINGER in Illinois 3 Dec 1885. He was son of Wm W and Matilda.+Read More

Milton A Brockett 1884-1972, married Frieda MUELLER in IL in 1921. He was son of Milton Ives and Virginia.+Read More

In 1900 he was with Milton Ives and Virginia Brockett in Enfield, aged 16, Farm Laborer,129 and again in 1910, aged 25, Rail Road Laborer.130 The 1930 and 1940 censuses recorded him with Frieda in Wisconsin, with no children. The Oshkosh Daily Northwestern of Oshkosh, WI, reported his death:131 “Milton A. Brockett, 88, of 802 Washington Ave., died Thursday [25 May 1972] at 4 p.m. at the extended care unit of Mercy Medical Center. He had been ill three and one-half months. He was born in Enfield, Ill., on May 18, 1884, son of Milton I. and Virginia Brockett, and was married on Dec. 21, 1921, to Miss Frieda Mueller, who preceded him in death on Sept. 16, 1969. Mr. Brockett had been employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee and Pacific Railroad in construction of the Puget Sound Line, then was representative for Sundry Milling Industries, Minneapolis. He was a member of the Mozart Club of Madison and 50-year member of Hiram Lodge 50 of Masons, Madison. Surviving is one brother, E. B. Brockett, Santa Monica, Calif.” According to Poland Milton’s second forename was Agnew, and his brother EB was Evan Bailey.132

5th generation: Milton Ives Brockett’s forbears

For Milton Ives Brockett’s likely father Benjamin,133 and his line see the separate page.

2. Some analysis of William Hume’s Y-DNA results

Currently, the Y-DNA of 9 out of the 12 participants in the N American Broket DNA project matches with genetic distances of 0-3. According to FTDNA—the company that did the analysis—a genetic distance of 0 indicates a 95% probability of a common male ancestor within eight generations, and a genetic distance of 3 indicates a common male ancestor within the range of most well-established surname lineages in Western Europe.134 In the wider Broket DNA project these 9 participants can be seen in Genetic Group 3.

Some of this Genetic Group 3 previously knew from their own family traditions that they descended ultimately from the original immigrant John Brockett of New Haven, who died 1690. Among these is a subgroup of 5, all of whom claim descent from Capt William Brockett 1748-1821. That this subgroup descended from the original immigrant John was for a while thrown into doubt by a record naming his father Benjamin, which contradicted the published genealogy which named him Elisha. However, the Y-DNA similarity just mentioned restored confidence in the ultimate descent, although where exactly Benjamin came in the lineage is still unclear. But such is the beauty of DNA evidence that it can sidestep all the uncertainties of written documents and provide incontrovertible proof of relationship.

One interesting feature of this Capt William, or Benjamin, subgroup of Genetic Group 3 is that more genetic mutation has occurred between the lines of different sons of Capt William’s clan than has occurred between the lines of different sons of the original immigrant John. Thus, there is an example of descendants of two different sons of the original immigrant displaying not one single mutation in 9 generations, or about 320 years, but another example of descendants of two different sons of Capt William displaying 4 mutations in only 6 generations, or about 165 years. The latter is the case between William Hume here and Wendell Brockett. By contrast, William Hume’s Y-DNA displays only one mutation from the descendants of the two other sons of the original immigrant, just mentioned.

Comparing 37 markers, the following matches were recorded for William Hume in the FTDNA database, as of Mar 2019:

Discussion: Harold E and William Leroy descended from different sons of John Brockett of New Haven (d 1690), Harold from son Samuel and William Leroy from son John. We don’t yet know which son William Hume descended from, but it’s unlikely that it was either of these two. Thus, in more than three hundred years only a single mutation occurred between William Hume and these other two in the 37 markers tested. One of the three participants at Genetic Distance 2, Ronald J, also descended from Samuel son of John Brockett of New Haven (d 1690), and the extra mutation only occurred in his line within the last 100 years. The other two participants, Harry D and Harold H, were more closely related to William Hume, and differed from him in another marker, but again within the last 100 years. They claimed descent from different sons of Capt William Brockett (d 1821), Harry D from Elisha and Harold H James respectively, whereas William Hume, as shown on this page, descended from Benjamin. The participant at Genetic Distance 3, Marlin, was another descendant of Elisha son of Capt William, the extra mutation having occurred in his line from Elisha but not in Harry D’s, again in less than a hundred years.

Footnotes

[1] New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 1993 vol 2 p 204. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary is similar: 'an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print'.

[2] Many thanks to Paul Brockett for kindly supplying information. Where a source isn't mentioned, the information will be from him. We're also indebted to Don Brockett for help with records for the 3rd and 4th generations.

[9] State of Delaware Certificate of death #05543. Copy kindly sent by Barbara Brockett.

[10] Published by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, his dates given as 1872-1946.

[11] The 1880 census recorded his age as 8. The Bibliography of Aeronautics authored by him gave his dates as 1872-1946. Both EJ Brockett 1905 p 201 and Poland 1996 vol 1 pp 53, 56, have 1872, but neither with a source.

[50] EJ Brockett 1905 p 118, without a source, and with no further information; Poland 1996 vol 2 p 1, citing the family Bible, adding 'No other information is known about this family'.

[51] US Federal 1850 census, p 2857 or 143. The transcription of the untidy writing of the census recorder said they were all born in 'La' (Louisiana) whereas it was probably 'Te' (Tennessee), or else the census recorder carelessly wrote a ditto mark from the previous family.

[66] 1840 US Federal Census for White Co, IL, sheet number not marked, line 20

[67] Document #1874, at goo.gl/ym6WWR (accessed 11 Mar 2019). Images courtesy of U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records website at goo.gl/8eQhgu (accessed 11 Mar 2019). Many thanks to Paul Brockett for help interpreting these maps.